Initial analysis of the November 5 state legislative election results in Virginia suggest that the General Assembly that takes office in January will be more favorable to conservation-minded issues. A good number of the newly elected members are on record as being against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and favorable to conservation positions taken by many of ABRA’s members. The new balance in the General Assembly will be 21 Democrats and 19 Republicans in the Senate, and 55 Democrats and 45 Republicans in the House of Delegates.

New Virginia Legislature Promises to Be More Conservation Friendly

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.